O’ Canada! Canada’s History Ms. Boehm December 5, 2008

The First People of Canada Aboriginal people were the first voices of Canada along with the Inuits (Native Americans). John Cabot landed on the coast of Newfoundland on June 24, 1497 and began a European influence on Canada. Other explorers of Canada include Sebastian Cabot, Jacques Cartier, and Henry Hudson in hopes of finding the Northwest Passage to Asia.

The First People of Canada European exploration led the way for the English and the French to take over the Aboriginal People. Europeans brought over diseases such as smallpox, measles, mumps, tuberculosis, etc. These diseases killed between ninety and ninety three percent of the Aboriginal People and colonization had begun.

Henry Hudson In 1610, Hudson traveled through the strait between Baffin Island and Quebec to what is now known as the Hudson Bay. He attempted to find the Northwest Passage, but with only a few crewmates, his son, and no food or water no one ever heard from him again.

Early Canada Canadian history is very similar to American history. In the early 1600’s, both the French and English established permanent settlements in North America. By the mid-1700’s, the colony of New France began in present day New Brunswick and Nova Scotia where the French and English fought over the land.

Early Canada Shortly afterwards, the French and the English War or the French and Indian War broke out which later gave Britain control of America. The French had to pay for the war and this influenced events leading up to the American Revolution. The revolution gave birth to Canada.

Early Canada Americans who were loyal to the British king fled to Canada. These Loyalists brought a strong pro-English viewpoint to Canada. Even as a British colony, Canada contained a unique French-speaking population. The Quebec Act allowed the French to keep their language, religion, civil law, and education.

Early Canada However, the French and English still couldn’t get along so they formed Lower and Upper Canada separating the French and the British. Each colony had its own legislature and legal system. It wasn’t until 1841 that the two colonies joined together as one colony. The French didn’t want to become like the English so they were very determined to maintain their national identity.

Early Canada In 1867, the British government passed the British North America Act, which split the united Canada colony into the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and added the colonies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to form a federal union of four provinces with a strong central government. Slowly, but surely other provinces joined Canada such as Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland.

Early Canada Describe the influence of the French and the English on the language and religion of Canada. Explain how Canada became an independent nation.

Quebec’s Independence In 1995, Quebec tried to pass a referendum where Quebec would be independent from Canada. They wanted their own distinct economy, language, and culture. They did not get their independence in 1995, but they will try again.